Awning



July 3, 1956 A. D. MORTRUDE 2,752,644

AWNING Filed June 18, 1953 d INVENTR.

/7/567'21 ya wd/Vo rizr zze,

AWNIN G Mortrude, Detroit, Mich., assignor to lne., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Albert Donald A. Eeisliaw, Michigan Application .lune 18, 1953, Serial No. 362,492 10 Claims. (Cl. 20 57.5)

This invention relates to awnings and, more particularly, to an improved awning of the fixed louver type.

The principal object of the present invention is to overcome disadvantages inherent in prior awnings of the ndicated character and to provide an improved awning that may be easily and quickly assembled and installed on a building with a minimum of tools, labor and expense.

invention is to provide an improved awning that is pleasing in appearance, economical to manufacture, strong, durable, weather-resistant, free from offensive vibration and rattling in use, and which of the sun therethroug The above as well as other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of an awning constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the same installed adjacent a window opening in a fragmentarily illustrated wall;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view, with portions broken away, of the structure illustrated in Fig. l, taken on the line 2 2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken on the line 3 3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken on the line 4 4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken on the line 5 5 thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken on the line 6 6 thereof.

Referring to the drawing, a wall 1l) is illustrated which may be considered to be an exterior wall of a building and which is shown as provided with a window opening 12 therein. The present invention provides an awning that may be installed adjacent the window opening 12 so as to shield the window opening, although it will be understood that the other uses.

According to the present invention,

spaced, substantially para 2,752,644 Fatented July 3, 1956 present invention is applicable to a pair of elongated,

llel supports 14 and 16 are provided which may be rolled or otherwise formed from aluminum, magnesium,

or other suitable material. The

supports 14 and 16 are generally channel-shaped and each 0f the supports includes 20 and 22 which, in

a web 18 and a pair of flanges the preferred construction shown,

extend angularly downward and outward from the web 18 when the supports are in the installed position. For

the purpose of strengthening and increasing the rigidity of these supports,

tire length thereof.

the free edge portions of the flanges 20 and 22 are return bent, as

at 24, for substantially the en- A plurality of longitudinally spaced slots 26 are provided in each of the supports 14 and 16, the slots 26 in the support 14 being aligned with the slots in the support These slots 26 extend through the web 18 and into the adjacent portions of the flanges 20 and 22 of each support, transversely of th adapted to receive one edge portion of of louvers, generally designated 28,

scribed hereinafter in gre At a position near, but the supports tures 29 are provided in Each slot 26 is one of a plurality which will be dee supports.

ater detail.

spaced from, the upper ends of 14 and 16, as viewed in Fig. 2, aligned aperthe flanges 20 and 22 of each of the supports in order to facilitate fastening the upper end portion of each of the supports to the wall 10, as

Will be described hereinafter in greater detail.

The louvers 28 are preferably made of aluminum,

magnesium, or other suitable material that is suiliciently strong in thin sections to withstand the forces exerted thereon in use, and extend transversely of the supports 14 and 16, the ends of the louvers terminating in outwardly spaced relationship with respect to the outermost flanges of the supports, preferred embodiment ill the cross sectional conto edge portion 32 of each as illustrated in Fig. l. In the ustrated, the louvers 28 are of ur shown in Fig. 2, the upper of the louvers being shaped generally in the cross sectional form of an S having a relatively long upper llange 30, an upper curved portion 34 and a lower curved portion 38. This latter portion 38 is continuous with the of the louvers 28. This main central portion 36 of each lower curved portion 38 of the each louver also forms an abutment engaging the supports 14 and 16 as hereinafter described. The central downwardly,

portion extends outwardly and as Viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, from the upper edge portion and the opposite or lower edge portion of sition, thereby defining a louvers 28.

Such a construction permits the in the assembled po- 46 between adjacent free circun opening shields the direct rays of the sun and substantially prevents the passage of rain through the openings 46 be The flanges 30 of the louvers 28 are fitted into the slots 26 in the supports 14 an in position and louvers and the flanges 3? that are dispo and 22 of each of of each support. prevent relative movement between the the supports are crimped or otherwise to be rigidly secured to the supports without the use of screws, rivets or similar fastening devices and facilitates securing the louvers to the supports with a minimum of tools, time and labor. Such a construction also prevents rattling of the louvers when the louvers are in the installed position. It will be appreciated that this crimping may be readily effected with conventional pliers or any other suitable tool.

For the purpose of bracing the supports 14 and 16, a pair of horizontally disposed channel-shaped struts 48 and 5@ are provided, the struts 48 and Si? preferably being made of the same material as the supports 14 and 16. Each of the struts d8 and 5i) includes a web 52 having integral flanges 54 and 56 depending from opposite sides thereof, the flanges 5dand S6 being spaced apart substantially the same distance as the distance between the flanges and 22 of the supports. As is best illustrated in Figs. l and Z, the supports 14 and 16 are inclined to the plane of the wall 10 while the struts 48 and 50 are substantially perpendicular to the wall when the awning is installed. The outer end of each strut is fitted intermediate the flanges at the lower end of the mating support so as to dene an acute angle. When the outer ends of the struts are fitted in the lower ends of the supports, the flanges 54 and 56 are deflected in a transverse direction, as shown in Fig. 6, so that the flanges 54 and 56 resiliently bear against the adjacent flanges of the supports, thereby providing a locking action. As is seen at 57 in Fig. 2, the outer end portion of each of the struts 48 and 50 is tapered so that the upper edges of the flanges S4 and 56 extend substantially parallel to the web 18 of the mating support. The corner portions S8 and 66 of the flanges 26 and Z2 are reversely folded inwardly about the adjacent portions of the flanges 54 and 56 of the struts 48 and Si) to secure the outer end portions of the supports 14 and 16 to the struts 48 and 58, respectively. To further secure the supports to the struts, a slot 62 is provided in each of the flanges 54 and 56 of the struts 48 and 50, the slots 62 being aligned with the adjacent slot 26 in the mating support. The flange 38 of the lowermost louver 28 extends into the slot 26 in each of the supports and into the slot 62 in each of the struts 48 and 50 and the sections of the anges 30 intermediate the flanges 54 and 56 on each of the struts 48 and 50 are crimped or otherwise deformed after the flange 30 is inserted in the slots so as to prevent relative movement between the louver, the supports 14 and 16 and the struts 48 and 50. With such a construction, the struts 48 and 50 may be xed to the mating supports without the use of screws, rivets or similar fastening devices and with a minimum of tools, time and labor.

At a position near, but spaced from, the opposite ends of the struts 48 and Si), aligned apertures 61 are formed in the anges 54 and 56 of each of the struts in order to facilitate fastening such ends of the struts to the wall.

The uppermost louver 63 adjacent the upper end portions of the supports i4 and 16 is preferably of the cross sectional contour illustrated in Fig. 2. The lower edge portion 64 of the louver 63 is shaped similarly to the corresponding portion of the louvers '2.8 so as to spacedly overlie the curved portion 34 of the adjacent louver 28 and the other edge portion 66 of the louver 63 is bent downwardly so as to extend in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the wall 10, the edge portion 66 being joined to the portion 6d of the louver by an angularly extending central portion 68. With such a construction, a triangularly-sectioned groove 70 is defined between the wall 1G and the central portion 68 and such groove may be filled with a conventional sealing or calliing compound '72 so as to seal the junction between the uppermost louver 63 and the wall 1t).

The inner end portion of each of the supports 14 and 16 and the struts 48 and 58 is secured to the wall 10 by a screw 74. Each of the screws 74 includes a threaded shank portion 76 and an integral, rectangularly sectioned, block-shaped head '78 having a transversely extending passageway Si) therein adapted to accommodate the shank of a bolt 82. In the installation of the awning, the uppermost louver 63 is located in the desired position above the window opening 12 and fastened to the wall with two of the screws 74, the shank 76 of such screws passing through apertures provided in the portion 66 of the louver 63 at a position spaced from each end thereof. The screws 74 are tightened so that the axis of the passageway 86 in the head '78 of each screw 74 is substantially horizontal and the upper ends of the supports 14 and 16 are then fitted over the heads 78 of the screws '74 so that the heads of the screws are positioned intermediate the anges 20 and 22 of the supports with the openings 29 in Such flanges aligned with the passageway 80 in the head of each screw. The bolt 82 is then inserted through the apertures 29 in the flanges 20 and 22 of the supports and the passageway 80 in the heads of the screws and nuts 84 are tightened thereon to draw the flanges 20 and 22 up against the heads 78 of the screws 74.

rIhe inner end portions of the struts 48 and 5() are secured to the wall in a similar manner, the bolts 82 passing through the apertures 61 provided in the flanges 54 and 56 of the struts and the passageway 80 in the head 78 of the screw 74, and holding the anges 54 and 56 against the screw heads 78. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, washers S6 are used between the screw heads 78 and the wall 10.

While only one preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an awning, the combination comprising a pair of elongated supports, each of said supports having a plurality of transverse slots in one side thereof and a recess in the opposite side thereof communicating with said slots, and a plurality of elongated louvers, each of said louvers having a depending flange portion on one side thereof adapted to be litted into one of said slots of each of said supports so as to project into said recesses, said flange portion being deformable so as to positively prevent relative movement between said louver and said supports.

2. ln an awning, the combination comprising a pair of elongated supports, each of said supports having a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse slots in one side thereof, and a plurality of louvers adapted to extend laterally of said supports in spaced parallel relationship, each of said louvers having a depending flange on one side thereof adapted to be fitted in one of said slots of each of said supports, said supports being recessed at the opposite side thereof for receiving portions of said flanges when said flanges are fitted in said slots, said flange por-- tions of each of said louvers being deformable to positively prevent relative movement between said louvers and said supports.

3. An awning comprising, in combination, a pair of elongated spaced supports each having a web and a pair of depending anges, each of said supports having a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse slots therein extending through the web and a portion of the flanges thereof, and a plurality of elongated louvers extending laterally of said supports in spaced parallel relationship, each of said louvers having a depending flange on one side thereof fitted in one of the slots in each of said supports, the sections of the ange of each of said louvers intermediate the flanges of said supports being deformed so as to positively prevent relative movement between said louvers and said supports.

4. An awning comprising, in combination, a pair of elongated, spaced supports each having a web and a pair Y, of depending flanges, each of saidsupports having a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse slots therein extending through the web and a portion of the flanges thereof, and a plurality of elongated louvers extending laterally of said supports in spaced, parallel relationship, each of said louvers having a depending ange on one side thereof tted in one of the slots in each of said supports, the sections of the ange of each of said louvers intermediate the flanges of said supports being deformed so as to positively prevent relative movement between said louvers and said supports, said louvers being so proportioned and said slots being so spaced that there is a vertical spacing between the lowermost part of each of said louvers and the uppermost part of the next lower of said louvers.

5. An awning comprising, in combination, a pair of elongated, spaced supports each having a web and a pair of depending flanges, each or said supports also having a plurality of axially spaced transverse slots therein extending through the web and a portion of the flanges thereof, and a plurality of elongated louvers extending laterally of said supports in spaced, parallel relationship, each of said louvers having side thereof tted in one of so as to positively prevent relative movement between said louvers and said supports.

6. An awning comprising,

spaced supports each having a web and a pair the wall of a building, and means for supporting the other end portion of each of said supports spaced outwardly from said wall.

An awning comprising, in combination, a pair ol elongated channel-shaped supports each having a pair of depending anges interconnected by an integral web, each of said supports having a plurality of axially spaced gated channel-shaped support having a pair of depending flanges interconnected by a web, an elongated channel-shaped strut disposed at an acute angle to said support and having a pair of depending flanges interconnected by a web, one end of said strut being inclined at said acute angle and fitted intermediate the flanges of said support at one end thereof, said support having a corner portion at said one end of each of the flanges thereof folded about the adjacent ange of said strut, transverse slot therein extending 9. In an awning, of elongated, spaced, provi-ded with a web said supports and said struts. An awning comprising, in combination, a pair of elongated, inclined, channel-shaped supports made of a deformable 2,629,144 Moeller Feb. 14, 1953 

